HUMPTY DUMPTY PANTOMIME

A HUGE SUCCESS.

The Opera House was packed in all parts last night when Messrs George Stephenson and Alf. Linley's Pantomime Company opened at five night's season with the pantomime "Humpty Dumpty." As usual the old nursery rhyme that we are all familiar has been brought up-to-date in every way, and the Hiunpty Dumpty in last night's performance presents but few points of- similarity to his illustrious namesake. The piece is bright and full of catchy airs, beautiful stage pictures and graceful dances — in short, just the kind of till that is required just now to draw people's thought away from the dreadful war that is occupying so much of everyone's thoughts. The dialogue is really smart and tne quaint sayings of the principal fun-makers kept the audience in a perfect bubble of merriment. The. principal "boy," who is as usual a girl, is Miss Olive Bobinson and she made a very cantivati/ng Tack Butercup. She acts very isiturally, and her powerful con+mlto voice was heard to great sidwiatagi iiot only in the various solos allotted to her but also in the concerted numbers. The patriotic song "The Empire is" Calling" which she sang during the course of the patriotic tableau towards the close of the performance, hit tne taste of tho audience and was nppiauded to the echo. Miss MolKe .King who filled the part of .Lolita 1 >oke«i charming and- her solos v*ore sv\-«ctly rendered. Miss Ida Ingemlo made a stately herald, and her solo "Tho"San Toy Maidens" which had a very pretty chorus, was one of the gems of the evening. The principal mirth producers are Mr. Con Moreni (the Widow Buttercup) and Mr. Ernie Lashbrook (Tiddly Wink, the Barber). Both of tliese are comedians of the highest .rrder, and they kept the audience in roars of laughter* with their clever fooling. Tho Widow's costumes, which were quite a la mode, were the envy of all the ladies present, and several expressed regret, that 'the Widow had not appeared in Greymouth sooner as some of her Paris "dreams" might have been copied for the races. The duet between the Widow and the Barber entitled "Rotorua" was one of the hits of the evening, and the sentiment expressed that they "would like to have the Kaiser sitting on a red hot geysey." met with general approval. The Barber's representation lof Kaiser Bill was very clever. Mr. Chas. Howard made an excellent King Dazzlum and acted with becoming dignity as the Eastern potentate.

The play was splendidly staged, the dresses and scenery being of a very high order. The transformation scene "Dreamland" was exceedingly beautiful^ and was loudly applauded. The march of the Allies was applauded to the echo and had to be repeated several times. The company has a clever ballet and* the dancing all through was capital.

.. The piece de resistance, however, was the acrobatic turn by Lennon, Hyman and Lennon the cleverest turn of its kind ever seen here. After seeing the marvellous work of the three artists one can hardly believe that they have a bone in tehir bodies — their tricks give one the opinion that rubber men are performing. The turn alone is worth the price of admission.

Good work was" done by the orchestra although it was inclined to be a bit niosy at times and drown the solo singers.

"Humpty Dumpty" will be repeated to-niglit and to-morrow night and is sure to draw packed houses.